Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton

This is a grand hotel indeed. Set back with a courtyard in front and right across from the big plaza. Reception is on the 5th floor. Lots of glass, huge lobby with nice bar and dining area. Location is good right along side central ave pedestrian walk. A couple blocks north is a large supermarket auto mart with just about everything for self catering or snacks, better stocked with imported cookies etc which most of the other smaller grocery stores don't have.||All rooms are on lower floors. The lobby is huge and impressive with big windows and lots of seating area which is a good thing - if your room's not ready there is plenty of space to hang out. Thankfully our room was ready at around 1:30. Room is a good size, carpeted. Window can't be opened and is double paned very soundproof. Good view of the front of the hotel and the busy intersection of 2nd Ave and 3rd st. Room had two full beds, modern decor, comfy chairs and a marble topped round table. Bathroom also not cramped. Fridge and coffee maker one of these pod styles which for me is useless, I'd rather they have a hot water kettle. 2 bottles of comp water, 2 real glasses. Aircon pretty quiet. Big tv, lots of mirrors. Basically what you'd expect in a main brand Hilton property. ||No stair access to any floors, you have to use the elevators which had security feature of key access to guest room floors. Concierge is on ground floor. Breakfast room is on one side of the lobby.||Firm and comfortable beds. Quite high - seems to be Costa Rica style as other hotels we stayed at also have thick mattresses.||Good breakfast with eggs made to order. Good cut fruit. Local style with rice and beans, yukka, plantain etc.||Also had dinner there one night. Food was not particularly creative or fancy, large portions. Well prepared but not memorable in any way.

We arrived straight from the airport to this hotel at night (thank you GPS!). When you arrive you feel like you've entered an oasis. Check in was easy (you take an elevator up to the reception). Our room was clean, comfortable, and quiet with a nice view of the plaza below. Service was top-notch. Our meals in the restaurant were excellent. We very much enjoyed the buffet breakfast as well. The hotel is right across from the National Theater (I recommend taking the tour!) and close to shops and cafes. The National Museum is about a 10-15 minute walk.

We loved the staff and the location. We tried the restaurant of the hotel and found the food to be great but expensive. We liked our room but missed some basic items like a showercap and the sleepers we are used to finding in hotels like this one. They only provide 2 free bottles of water, so do not expect a couple each day like in other hotels. The internet connection was really disappointing. The bed was comfortable, and the room was ok overall.

Spent a total of 2 nights here on the first and last night of my trip (visited other parts of Costa Rica). Hotel is very centrally located and walking distance from anything you'll need in terms of food or shopping. Staff was very incredibly helpful and I got a room upgrade both nights from being a Hilton Honors Gold member. The corner suites were excellent and had great views of the nearby plaza. Rooms were clean and felt large especially for a city hotel. Breakfast was buffet style and had a wide array of options. Overall a solid experience. Would stay here again next time I'm in San José.

I stayed at the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton, from April 25–28, 2025. As someone who travels frequently and stays in many high-end properties, I chose this hotel based on its strong reputation in San José. While the staff was friendly, professional, and the hotel itself was very clean, my overall experience fell short of expectations for a 4-star property. I booked a 1 King Bed Junior Suite that was advertised as including “executive amenities, including buffet breakfast.” Upon check-in, I was informed there was no executive lounge (it had closed years ago), and breakfast was not included as advertised. I was forced to use my Hilton status to cover breakfast instead of earning points. The suite itself offered no extra amenities compared to a basic room — the fridge was empty, and there were no drinks or snacks for purchase. The Wi-Fi was very spotty and only worked in certain areas of my room, which made both work and streaming frustrating. I had dinner at the hotel restaurant, where the food was significantly overpriced with very small portions. I ordered steak frites over pasta for about $30, and while the steak was cooked properly and tasted fine, the portion size was disappointing for the price. Breakfast was another letdown — the buffet was basic and closer to what you would find at a 2- or 3-star hotel, not a 4-star. If I stayed here again (which I wouldn’t), I would only book a standard room because the suite offered no real upgrade. Service and cleanliness were excellent, but the Wi-Fi, amenities, dining, and misleading marketing made the overall experience disappointing and not worth the premium price.

The Gran Hotel Costa Rica is right in the heart of San Jose. You cannot beat this location! And the rooms are well appointed, and the restaurant is delicious. We stayed here for a couple of days on the tail end of our trip because we wanted to experience San Jose city — and it was the perfect spot! Staff were amazing as well. Highly recommend. Thank you, Gran Hotel!

San Jose Central was a lot nicer long ago. Finding the Gran Hotel isn't the easiest, and I would be reluctant to walk outside at night. The hotel itself is lovely and full service. The rooms are as pictured, and the facility nicely maintained. The staff are solicitous, though not overly friendly. The buffet breakfast looks lovely, but for $38, it wasn't for us, especially when there are coffee shops and bakeries around the square.

It's a Hilton, so you know it will be nice & clean. I have to admit that we drove by the entrance 3 times before calling & the valet walking out onto the street to get us! So sweet. There is a driveway with a very small sign, so you will most likely miss it, plus the GPS wasn't very helpful. Absolutely enjoyed our stay.